Mbandaka, Democratic Republic of Congo – At least 30 people have died and dozens remain missing after two motorized boats collided on the Congo River in northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The collision occurred Sunday evening near Ngombe-Lukolela in Équateur province, according to provincial Interior Minister Crispin Mputu.
The two boats were traveling in opposite directions. One was heading from the Ubangi area toward Kinshasa, while the other was traveling from Kinshasa toward Lukolela.
Search operations were continuing for survivors and additional victims.
Cause remains unclear
Authorities have not established what caused the collision.
Mputu said nighttime navigation has contributed to numerous boat accidents in the country. He did not identify it as the confirmed cause of this crash.
An unnamed security officer who witnessed the incident said one of the boats appeared to be overloaded with goods. The officer also said the vessel sank after the collision, trapping passengers underwater.
That account has not established that overloading caused the accident.
■ Related News
The 30 people confirmed dead had already been buried, according to Mputu.
Rescue operation continues
The number of missing passengers remains unclear. Authorities have not provided a verified total number of people aboard the two vessels.
The continuing search means the death toll could rise as rescuers recover additional victims or find survivors.
River transport is a major means of travel in many parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where limited infrastructure makes waterways important for moving people and goods.
Deadly boat accidents have repeatedly raised concerns about overcrowding, nighttime travel and safety standards. A separate boat disaster in Kasaï province in July killed at least 20 people.
The immediate focus remains on locating those still missing and determining what caused the collision.
Reporting Credit: Équateur Provincial Interior Ministry; Équateur provincial authorities; Congolese security authorities.
